WatchMojo founder Ashkan Karbasfrooshan is leading a group seeking to bring the Expos back to Montreal through Major League Baseball expansion, with prospective investors assembled and potential stadium locations submitted to the city, CTV News reports.
The Montreal entrepreneur calls the effort the Peanut Project. CTV’s September 18 report identifies three possible ballpark locations: near MELS between highways 10 and 15, along the Lachine Canal, and at the Angrignon snow dump. These are proposed sites; no stadium agreement is announced in the report.
Karbasfrooshan has been seeking backing beyond Montreal. In an April project update, he described approaching wealthy individuals, private investment firms, existing sports owners and professional athletes. CTV says he has investors in place but does not identify them or disclose their commitments.
The opportunity is MLB’s planned expansion from 30 teams to 32. Commissioner Rob Manfred wants the two cities selected before his term ends in January 2029; that is not a deadline for the teams to begin playing. Karbasfrooshan told CTV his group would almost certainly submit a proposal if MLB opened the process today. The ownership structure the league would accept and the economic outlook remain unresolved.
Our view: I would love to see the Expos come back. But if they do, they have to spend money. The last thing Major League Baseball needs is another team that won’t spend on players.
I remember the lean years with the great Vladimir Guerrero and Felipe Alou managing: a small payroll, losing seasons and rows of empty seats. I don’t want to see that repeated. If Montreal gets another chance, ownership has to be prepared to put money into the team on the field.